Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Rotherham United 0.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers1RotherhamRotherham United0
Blackburn stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with a narrow home victory over struggling Rotherham.
Luke Hyam's first-half own goal was all that separated the two sides in a game of few chances at Ewood Park.
Hyam, on loan from Ipswich, headed a Craig Conway cross into his own net as he tried to clear.
This was Rotherham's eighth defeat in their past 11 games, but they went close to finding a leveller through a late Jonson Clarke-Harris.
Victory moved Blackburn into the top half of the table and to within two points of the top six.
Their third win in four games came courtesy of some good fortune as Hyam put them ahead against the run of play.
The midfielder did his best to atone for his mistake in the second half, but saw a shot on the edge of the penalty area from Grant Ward's pull-back deflected wide.
Millers midfielder Joe Newell had earlier been denied by Jason Steele's sharp save.
Shane Duffy's powerful header from a corner almost stretched Blackburn's lead but Lee Camp palmed it over the bar.
Rotherham were unable to find a way back, though, and remain second from bottom.
Blackburn manager Paul Lambert said:
"It wasn't a great game and Rotherham made it difficult as I knew they would.
"They're a hard team to play against. All credit to our team. If you can't play as well as you normally play and you see a game through, it's a great trait to have.
From our point of view, I'm delighted. Performance-wise, we are so much better than that but you have to give Rotherham credit."
Rotherham manager Neil Redfearn said:
"I thought we deserved to win if I'm honest. I thought we were the better side.
"Their goal is an own goal and we've defended well through the night. We've been the better side and come away with nothing.
"I have to say the application, the work-rate, effort and how they have applied themselves has been first-class.
"But these lads just need some help and that little bit of quality. If you'd had stuck Jordan Rhodes in our side, we'd have won 3-0 or 4-0."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 30Steele
- 2Henley
- 22Duffy
- 5Hanley
- 14Olsson
- 10MarshallSubstituted forTaylorat 82'minutes
- 21Akpan
- 29Evans
- 32Conway
- 16LawrenceSubstituted forBrownat 66'minutes
- 11RhodesSubstituted forGuthrieat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Spurr
- 4Kilgallon
- 9Brown
- 13Eastwood
- 17Williamson
- 19Taylor
- 23Guthrie
Rotherham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Camp
- 2Buxton
- 5BroadfootBooked at 74mins
- 4Collins
- 3Mattock
- 33Smallwood
- 25HyamSubstituted forDerbyshireat 68'minutes
- 17Ward
- 8Frecklington
- 22NewellSubstituted forBarkerat 88'minutes
- 19Clarke-Harris
Substitutes
- 11Green
- 21Collin
- 23Thorpe
- 26Barker
- 27Derbyshire
- 30Toffolo
- 39Yates
- Referee:
- Tony Harrington
- Attendance:
- 13,054
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamRotherham
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Rotherham United 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Matt Derbyshire (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kirk Broadfoot.
Post update
Hand ball by Chris Brown (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Danny Guthrie replaces Jordan Rhodes.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Brandon Barker replaces Joe Newell.
Post update
Foul by Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Grant Ward (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Offside, Rotherham United. Matt Derbyshire tries a through ball, but Jonson Clarke-Harris is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Chris Brown (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Joe Mattock (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Taylor replaces Ben Marshall because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Markus Olsson.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United) with an attempt from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Joe Newell with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Ben Marshall.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Brown (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Craig Conway with a cross.
Booking
Kirk Broadfoot (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
